Truss.



P. K. SMITH.

TEUSS.

APPLICATION FILED DEO.16, 1913.

1,131,633. 'PatentedMar.9,1915.

THE NORRIS PETERS. 7C0 PHUTU-UTHQ, WASHINGTON. I.)v G

UNTTED %TATE@ T FRANK K. SMITH, OF IvIANI-IATT'AN, KANSAS.

TRUSS.

Application filed December 16, 1913.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, FRANK K. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Manhattan, in the county of Riley and State of Kansas, have invented new and useful Improvements in Trusses, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to trusses of the elastic spring type, and has for its object to provide a novel construction of supporting spring and adjustable pad, whereby a truss which is light in weight, capable of being easily and conveniently worn, and wherein the pad may be positioned to bear with greatest efliciency against the affected part, is produced.

The invention consists of the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts herein fully described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanylng drawing in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a truss constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view on line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Tn carrying my invention into practice, I provide a truss comprising a spring strlp 1, made of metal of a desired resiliency, and bent partially to encircle the waist portion of the body.- This strip may be inclosed, if desired, in a sheathing of fabric or other suitable material to render it easy and comfortable to the wearer.

The ends 2 and 3 of the strip are adapted to extend over and terminate just in ad vance of the hips, and, as shown, the end 2 is provided with a downwardly curved and inwardly curved portion 4, while the end 3 may be provided with studs 5 or other suitable means for the connection therewith of a fastening strap, if desired, the free end of which strip may be fastened to the end 2 in any preferred manner.

The extremity of the curved portion 4: of the end 2 is provided with an opening 6 receiving a headed screw or pin 7, supporting a pad 8, which is designed to bear upon the affected part. This pin or screw is loosely mounted. in the opening to allow the pad to have a slight range of play in a direction toward and from the curved end of the strip, while at the same time adapting the pad to pivot on said pin or screw as an ax s for adjustment to different angular positlons, so that the pad may be arranged to bear at Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 9, 1915.

Serial No. 807,097.

the proper angle and without objectionable pressure upon the affected part.

As shown the pad 8 comprises an elongated block of substantially equilateral triangular form in cross section throughout its length, the relatively convergent inclined sides 9 of the block forming at their point of juncture an angular bearing surface. The other remaining side 10 of the block, which 18 outwardly disposed, is slightly curved or mounted so as to permit the block to have the requisite tilting and swinging movements in a free and easy manner and without objectionable resistance from the curved portion 4: of the spring to which it is at tached.

The mode of use of the device will be evident from those versed in the art, and it will be seen that the invention provides a simple and inexpensive construction of trusses in which the curved portion 4 is arranged to extend down over the abdomen and dispose the pad 8 in an efficient operative position, the pad itself being adjustable so that it may be disposed at the desired angle to bear with the required pressure to support the affected part, without exerting objectionable pressure thereon. Further, it will be seen that by the construction described the pressure resulting from the action of the spring is sustained by the hips, the depending end 4 serving simply to retain the pad in position without undue force, the advantages of which will be appreciated.

I claim 1. A truss comprising a spring band, having at one end a portion extending downwardly and laterally at an oblique angle in a direction toward the opposite end of the supporting pin loosely mounted in an opening in said downwardly and laterally curved portion for pivotal and rocking movements, and a pad carried by said downwardly and laterally curved end of the band, said pad comprising an elongated block of equilateral triangular form in cross section throughout its length, the converging sides of said block forming an angular bearing surface at their lineal juncture and the base of said block being transversely of convex contour and receiving said supporting pin, whereby the convex base of the block is dis posed to bear upon the downwardly and laterally curved end of the spring and to have pivotal and rocking movements thereon.

2. A truss, comprising in combination, a

support for engagement With the person of In testimony whereof I affix my signature the wearer, a truss pad having an obtrusive in presence of tWo Witnesses. lineal engaging portion, and means loosely mounting said pad on said support for FRANK K. SMITH. slight relative adjusting movement thereon \Vitnesses:

conformable to displacement of the person B. H. OZMENT,

of the wearer, substantially as described. HENRY OTTO.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

